The Way to Repentance

Question :

I am a young man nineteen years of age, I am someone who has sinned excessively; I don't pray often in the Masjid, I have never fasted a complete Ramadhan, and I do many vile deeds. Though I am often resolved on repenting, I always return to sinning. I have two sets of companions, both of which are not practicing Muslims: my neighborhood friends and my brother's friends, who come to our house. Please show me how to bring myself closer to Allâh Almighty, farther away from sinning.

Answer:

Allâh Almighty says:
"Say: O My servants who have transgressed against themselves! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins. Truly. He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."

The scholars agree that this verse was revealed for those who repent. Allah Almighty forgives all of the sins of a person who repents sincerely, based both on the previous verse and on this one:
"O you who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance! It may be that your Lord will remit from you your sins, and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise)."

Allâh Almighty mentions here that sincere repentance is a condition for having one's sins atoned for. But what is sincere repentance? It is one in which you combine all of these elements together:

1) You must desist and refrain from the sin.

2) You must feel remorse for having perpetrated it.

3) You must resolve not to return to that sin recognizing Allah's mightiness, seeking His reward, and fleeing from His punishment.

If your sin involves blood, wealth, or honor (i.e., the rights of others), there is a fourth condition: You must redress the wrong you did by returning what you wrongfully took or by being forgiven by those you wronged. If it is a matter of honor, one that you cannot rectify, pray for the brother you wronged and mention him always in the best light, especially regarding where you wronged him. This is because good deeds wipe out bad ones:
"And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful.

In this verse Allah Almighty made success dependant upon repentance; this shows that the one who repents is successful, happy. If you follow your repentance with faith and good deeds, Allah Almighty will obliterate your sins, and put good deeds in their place, a favor that Allah Almighty relates after mentioning great sins, such as disbelief, wrongful murder, and fornication:
"And whoever does this shall receive the punishment. The torment will be doubled to him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein in disgrace; Except those who repent and believe, and do righteous deeds, for those, Allah will change their sins into good deeds, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."

To achieve repentance, you should ask Allah Almighty to guide you, to make you successful, to grant you true and sincere repentance:
"Invoke Me, I will respond to your invocation."

"And when My servants ask you concerning Me, then I am indeed near: I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me."

Another factor that may affect not only your repentance, but also your ability to remain steadfast afterwards, is the company you keep. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said :
"A person is upon the religion of his close friend, so let each of you look at those whom he takes as close friends."

He ﷺ also said :
"The example of a virtuous Companion is that of the perfume seller: Either he will give to you (perfume) as a gift, you will buy (perfume) from him, or you will find a pleasant smell emanating from him. The example of an evil Companion is that of a blacksmith: Either he will burn your clothing, or you will find a disgusting odor emanating from him."

Source:
The Permanent Committee
Fatawa Islamiyah, Vol. 7 Pages 246-247-248-249

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